[1] In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month,
the word of the LORD came to me: [2] "Son of man, write down the name of
this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem
this very day. [3] And utter an allegory to the rebellious house and say to
them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Set on the pot, set it on, pour in water
also; [4] put in it the pieces of flesh, all the good pieces, the thigh and
the shoulder; fill it with choice bones. [5] Take the choicest one of the
flock, pile the logs under it; boil its pieces, seethe also its bones in
it. [6] "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city, to the
pot whose rust is in it, and whose rust has not gone out of it! Take out of
it piece after piece, without making any choice. [7] For the blood she has
shed is still in the midst of her; she put it on the bare rock, she did not
pour it upon the ground to cover it with dust. [8] To rouse my wrath, to
take vengeance, I have set on the bare rock the blood she has shed, that it
may not be covered. [9] Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody
city! I also will make the pile great. [10] Heap on the logs, kindle the
fire, boil well the flesh, and empty out the broth, and let the bones be
burned up. [11] Then set it empty upon the coals, that it may become hot,
and its copper may burn, that its filthiness may be melted in it, its rust
consumed. [12] In vain I have wearied myself; its thick rust does not go
out of it by fire. [13] Its rust is your filthy lewdness. Because I would
have cleansed you and you were not cleansed from your filthiness, you shall
not be cleansed any more till I have satisfied my fury upon you. [14] I the
LORD have spoken; it shall come to pass, I will do it; I will not go back,
I will not spare, I will not repent; according to your ways and your doings
I will judge you, says the Lord GOD." [15] Also the word of the LORD came
to me: [16] "Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your
eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep nor shall
your tears run down. [17] Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the
dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover
your lips, nor eat the bread of mourners." [18] So I spoke to the people in
the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as
I was commanded. [19] And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what
these things mean for us, that you are acting thus?" [20] Then I said to
them, "The word of the LORD came to me: [21] `Say to the house of Israel,
Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of
your power, the delight of your eyes, and the desire of your soul; and your
sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword. [22]
And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the
bread of mourners. [23] Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes
on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall pine away in your
iniquities and groan to one another. [24] Thus shall Ezekiel be to you a
sign; according to all that he has done you shall do. When this comes, then
you will know that I am the Lord GOD.' [25] "And you, son of man, on the
day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the
delight of their eyes and their heart's desire, and also their sons and
daughters, [26] on that day a fugitive will come to you to report to you
the news. [27] On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and
you shall speak and be no longer dumb. So you will be a sign to them; and
they will know that I am the LORD."
